atlanta

When the Richest and Most Powerful Fall Victim; The Henry Heinz Murder

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Henry Heinz was a wealthy and successful man by any standard. A Director and Vice-President of the giant Citizen’s and Southern Bank, he was also the President of the Kiwanis Club and the Atlanta Athletic Club. He was a mover and shaker in the Atlanta social and business scenes. A member of the most exclusive social clubs in the city, Henry was very well-connected. He was a … [Read more...] about When the Richest and Most Powerful Fall Victim; The Henry Heinz Murder

Stealing From the Baptists

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Comedian Jeff Foxworthy once said you might be a redneck if you've ever made change in the offering plate. What would you be if you stole from not just that plate but from the church's coffers to the tune of millions of dollars? Around the time Ponzi's scheme became known to the public, an enterprising con man began his version of the con on the world of Baptists and lined … [Read more...] about Stealing From the Baptists

Bless Her Heart; The Nuances of the South’s Most Powerful Phrase

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When I was growing up in the Atlanta suburb of Buckhead, it was common knowledge that when someone said “bless your heart,” they often really meant “go straight to hell.” This unique cultural-linguistic twist, though now in decline, still survives south of the Mason-Dixon Line. My mom, Ellen Tate, became a true master of this type of verbal assault, which she elevated to a fine … [Read more...] about Bless Her Heart; The Nuances of the South’s Most Powerful Phrase

The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia; The Fabulous Dixie Carter

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Actress Dixie Carter was not a cast member of the classic Southern film "Steel Magnolias." Sally Field, Olympia Dukakis, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, and Daryl Hannah showed the world the perfect balance of strength, beauty, and tenderness that the title suggests. It would, however, be impossible to envision a Steel Magnolia without considering the late Ms. … [Read more...] about The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia; The Fabulous Dixie Carter

Atlanta Pen; Not the Nicest Neighbor

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One of the scariest places I have ever seen (just from the outside) is the Federal United States Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia, and when I was a little girl, we lived right down the highway. In 1891, Congress passed the Three Prisons Act, authorizing the building of facilities at Leavenworth, Atlanta, and McNeil Island. In 1899, President William McKinley signed off on … [Read more...] about Atlanta Pen; Not the Nicest Neighbor